Barak: We can't let citizens take law into their own hands

In reaction to clashes that took place a day earlier in the Gilad Farm outpost in Samaria, Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday said that "We can not let citizens take the law into their hands." "These disturbances damage the rule of law in the country," Barak said during a tour of the Givati Brigade's training in the Negev.

"They are not representative of the people, they are actions carried out by small groups whose behavior is inappropriate and we will continue to deal the problem," the defense minister said. Barak went on to say that "there was provocation, use of force and resistance to orders of people sent by the state."

According to police, eight settlers were arrested during the clashes
that broke out when they entered the outpost in a pre-dawn raid.
Settlers claimed that 12 people were bruised by rubber bullets.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israel Police
Insp.-Gen. Dudi Cohen held discussions with senior police
officials to evaluate the situation in the West Bank after settlers
claimed that police allegedly used rubber bullets during Monday mornings
demolition.

"At
this time we must show responsibility, restraint and avoid an
escalation in violence at any cost. The Israeli police will be prepared
for any scenario," Cohen said. The police chief issued a series of instructions and passed them down to commanders and heads of regional departments. Cohen also ordered that police act so that "minimal disruption is caused to routine life and according to the procedures in place."

He made the comments after Palestinians in the Hebron area woke up Tuesday morning to find the windshields of dozens of their cars smashed, as a result of an alleged attack by right-wing activists. This comes a day after settlers blocked roads overnight Monday in Jerusalem, allegedly setting fire to tires and throwing a petrol bomb at the Palestinian village of Hawara.

Right-wing activists
said that the act of smashing windows was a "price tag" revenge attack
for violence used by police at the evacuation of Gilad Farm.

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